Downtown & Business Bay
The heart of the city, around the Burj Khalifa. Deep rental demand, well suited to studios and one-bedroom apartments.
Invest in Dubai
Dubai, the most open market in the region.
Freehold ownership for foreigners, off-plan payments protected by law, a fully remote purchase: Dubai has built a framework designed for international investors. I help you choose well within it.
Le Burj Khalifa et la skyline de Dubaï au crépusculeWhy Dubai
A framework built for the investor.
Since 2006, Dubai law has allowed foreigners to buy freehold property in designated areas. The title is registered with the Dubai Land Department, the emirate's land authority, and you own the property just as a resident would.
On off-plan purchases, payments go into an escrow account opened for the project and are released to the developer as construction progresses. The market is supervised by RERA, the real estate regulator.
For Moroccan and international investors, Dubai also offers a currency pegged to the US dollar, no personal income tax in the UAE, and a city where your language is spoken.
- Freehold ownership in designated areas
- Escrow account on off-plan purchases
- 100% remote purchase
Official reference points
What to remember.
- 100%
- freehold ownership for foreigners in designated freehold areas
- 4%
- registration fee at the Dubai Land Department
- AED 2M
- in property to apply for the 10-year Golden Visa
- 0%
- personal income tax in the UAE
Sources: Dubai Land Department, official u.ae portal. Taxation in your country of residence depends on tax treaties.
Neighbourhoods
Where to buy in Dubai?
Each neighbourhood serves a different objective. Here is how I read them for my clients.
Dubai Marina & JBR
Waterfront living, much sought after by expatriate tenants and for short-term rentals.
Palm Jumeirah
Dubai's iconic address, for long-term wealth and the high end.
Dubai Hills & Creek Harbour
New, green, family-oriented communities, led by major developers.
Jumeirah Village Circle
The most accessible entry point, popular for buy-to-let investment.
Dubai South & the outskirts
Emerging areas around Al Maktoum airport, for a long horizon.
The buying journey
How a purchase works in Dubai.
- 01
Selection and booking
We choose the property together. You book it with a deposit, remotely, paid into the project account.
- 02
Contract and registration
The sale and purchase agreement (SPA) is signed electronically. Off-plan, the sale is recorded in the DLD interim register (Oqood). On the resale market, the transfer takes place at the DLD.
- 03
Payment plan
Off-plan, you pay in stages following the developer's schedule, often until handover and sometimes beyond.
- 04
Handover
Inspection of the property, title deed, then letting or moving in.
« In Dubai, the framework protects the buyer. My job is to choose the right project within it. »
Ahmed Benjas
Your roadmap
Your project, in 60 seconds.
Five questions, and I reply personally with a first reading of your project: where, how, and in what order.
- A personal reply from Ahmed
- A free 30-minute call
- No commitment
Step 1 of 5
Where do you live today?
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Official sources
Do I need to be a resident to buy in Dubai?
No. A non-resident can buy freehold property in designated freehold areas. You do not need a UAE visa or a UAE bank account to book.
What fees should I expect?
The main one is the registration fee of 4% of the price, collected by the Dubai Land Department, plus administrative fees. On the resale market, add the agency commission and, where relevant, any financing costs.
Is buying off-plan safe?
Projects must be registered, and buyers' payments go into an escrow account dedicated to the project, released as construction progresses. Choosing the right developer and project remains the key: that is where my analysis comes in.
Can I resell before handover?
Generally yes, once you have paid a share of the price set by the developer. The terms are set out in each project's contract.
Can I finance a purchase in Dubai?
Local banks lend to non-residents under certain conditions, mostly on completed properties. Off-plan, the staged payment plan often plays that role.
Read next
Contact
Let's talk about your project.
One message is enough. I reply personally, in English, French, Arabic or Darija.